Hydraulic classifier.



M; P. KIRK. HYDRAULIC OLASSIFIER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 4, 1913.

1,12,6"i2 Patented July 7, 1914.,

2 SHEETW-BHEET 1.

. w 3 4 Q R L k I'Illi NORRIS PETERS C0,, PHOTO-LlT HO.v WASHINGTON, D- C- M. P. KIRK. HYDRAULIC OLASSIFIER.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 4, 1913.

Patented July 7, 191i 2 SHBETEPSHEBT 2.

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MORRIS PAUL KIRK, 0F SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, ASSIGNOR OF ONEPHALF T0 JOHN H.

LEAVELL, OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH.

HYDRAULIC C'LASSIFIER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 4, 1913. em-a1 No. 782338.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Mourns P. KIRK, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Salt Lake City, in the county of Salt Lake and State of Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hydraulic Classifiers, of which the following is a speci- In the preparation of finely crushed pulps l; in ore concentrators and the allied 'lILClUS-E tries, it is necessary to separate and su'bdij vide the pulp into different sizes or classesg previous to the separation on the concentrating or finishing machines. In thetype of invention referred to, the separation and subdivision of the pulp has been accomplished by subjecting the pulp as a whole, to a rising column of water in which the heavier and larger particles fall and the lighter or smaller particles are caused to ascend. By regulating the velocity of this rising column of Water, various sizes or classes of pulp result and this has been accomplished by a variety of means from time to time.

My present invention comprehends an improved means for accomplishing the sizing or classification of the ore particles whereby the operations may be more perfectly and accurately performed and a higher recovery of the valuable contents of the concentrating or finishing means to which the particles are fed, may be obtained.

With the above and other objects in'view, my invention consists of the parts and the constructions, arrangements and combinations of parts which I will hereinafter describe and claim.

In the accompanying drawings forming? part of this specification and in which similar reference characters indicate like parts in the several views ;Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of a hydraulic classifier embodying the salient features of my invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view on the line ).'X of Fig. 1. Fig. 4: is an enlarged detail in vertical section of one of the spigots or castings on the lower end of the sorting column. Fig. '5 is a cross section of the same. F g. 6 1s an enlarged deta1l showing the spiral grooves on the lower end of one of the stand pipes, H.

In said drawings, A, represents the inain tank or box which may have greater length than width and which has a' sloping bottom, said tank or box being, preferably, of

uniform width throughout, and of varying depth, but it will be understood that I do not limit myself to this particular design of tank, as said tank may be wider at the discharge end than at the receiving end and it may have a uniform depth if preferred, said tank or box havlng internal CIOSS'PELIlJltlOIlS,

Patented July 7., 1914. v

a, forming in the lower portion of the tank a number of downwardly converging compartments, b, of difierent sizes, :as is well known in this art. The tank is provided with a series of sizing orsorting columns, B, B B B 13 and B of which there may be any desired number, according to the size and capacity of the tank, and the number of the compartments, Z), thereof, each of the sorting columns comprising a vertical member or stand-pipe, H, to the top of which is fitted an air-tight cap, H; the bottom of the pipe, H, is provided with a series of spiral grooves, J, as shown particularly in Fig. '6, and one of the said pipes extends through the bottom or conical end of each of the downwardly diverging compartments, b, formed in the tank, as shown.

The stand pipe, H, extends a substantial distance into the tank and the purpose of this is to facilitate the reaching down to re-' move the pipe in case of clogging. It also should be of sufficient length to provide an air space inside of the pipe, which acts as a sort of xovernor, in utilizing the momentary fluotuat1ons which occur in water pressure. This long pipe also serves to retard the current in the classifier tank and to bring the particles to be separated down into the sorting chambers, as said particles travel along from the intake to the discharge of the tank. I have conducted .a great many experiments with regard to this pipe and why they air cushion should effect the pressure Ihave not been able to figure out scientifically, but it .does so nevertheless. Surrounding the member or pipe, H, is a pipe, G, of larger diameter than said pipe, H, so as to form an intervening annular chamber, 0, said pipe, G, being threaded into engagement with a flange, kl, whichis secured over the bottom opening of the compartment with which the pipe connects. The lower end ofthe pipe, G, isthreaded into engagement with a casting, E, which I will hereinafter refer to as a spigot, andv which casting is formed with double walls,F..F,-with an intervening annular space, e, which connects with the space, 0, a "between the stand-pipe, H, and the pipe, G, before mentioned. One of the castings or I spigots is provided for each of the stand pipes, H, and each of said castings or SPIgOtS has a lateral outlet through which water un der pressure may be furnished, andthe bot- 1 tom of the spigot has a clean-out opening to receive a sultable plug, L.

t In the type of apparatus shown for illustrative'p'urposes the sorting columns are of differentsize and the compartments'which the stand-pipes of these columnsenter are also of different size, the purpose of which will ,behereinafter described. The apparatusv sh'ownfis provided with means for making separate classifications, with a rejection, or overflow at the point, C,'and any desired number of classifications may bemade .without departing'from the salient features of the invention.

As'before described, each of the several spigots, B, B &c is provided with water' under pressure and which is admitted through the side opening, is, below the lower end of the stand-pipe.

in the investigations and experiments? leading up to my invention, it was discov-F ered that for close and accurate classifica tionfa whirling or circular motion to the water in the rising column was essential. With pulp consisting of all sizes from comparatively coarse particles down to infinitely fine or small portions, this whirling actionwas necessary to separate the one from the, other, the finer particles having a tendency to attach themselves tothe larger ones, but; by giving the pulp a whirling motion the pare ticles are separated from one another by the j action of the centrifugal forces set up. It, was further found that, when whirling the water in the sorting columnformed by the pipe, G, in the absenceof the vertical pipe, H, a vortex was formed which produced a countercurrent that had the effect of returning the particles downward, and so kept them. in constant circulation very much the sameway as the familiar whirling of chips in a whirlpool, but by introducing the ver-v tical standpipe, H, within the pipe or column, G, the vortex was broken up and the column became an ascending one at the same time having a circular 'motion.

My invention is, therefore, the result of 6 the investigations and discoveries mentioned, l

operation of the. single sorting column, as

and in order to produce the desired whirling effect to the column, I provide the lower end ofthe member or pipe, H, with spirallyarranged grooves, J, as shown in Fig. 6, whereby the fluid under pressure,ienters the inlet, is, in the spigot orcasting, E, and is distributed into the chamber bounded by the inner walls, F, F, and the lower spirally grooved end of the pipe, H, and it thence passes through the groovesand ascendsthe annular chamber, a, formed between the con- I centric spaced pipes, G, H. As before stated, the purpose and effect of the grooves J, is to impart a'whirling motion tothe water as it ascends. Particles of ore heavy andlarge enough to re'sist the velocity of; the rising water fall through the space, '0,

.and are finally discharged through a bottom 1 opening controlled by'the spigot plug," L;

the lighter'or'smaller particles, unable to resist the force of the water, ascend and pass on to. the, next compartment of the tank in which compartment a,similaroperationis performed. In other words, the described wellas the construction of the spigot thereof, 7 is the same in each of the various compartments of the tank, the particles heavy enough to resist the velocity of the'water settling into one of the spigo ts and the particles toolight pass on to the next and so on, through the whole series of spigots. The first spigot, B, that is, the one neXt to the inlet end of the tank, therefore, discharges the coarser particles, theneXt succeeding spigot discharges the next smaller particles, and so on in rotation to the final spigot, BF, the finest of all, together with the accumulated water being discharged at the overflow point, C, atthe upper tail end of the tank.

It will be understood, of course, that the proportions of the different parts will vary 7 I according to the tonnage to be handled and the nature and composition of the material to be treated. For instance, on the first spigot, B, which is shown as of comparatively small size and which will be adjusted to a comparatively highvelocity, and will discharge the coarsest of the particles, the spiralfmay consist of four grooves only, whereas in the spigot, B, where the amount of rising water is small and the diameter or 7 size of the compartment with which. this spigot communicates is comparatively large, as many as'twelve or more spirals for the 1 proper Subdivision of the water may be pro vided. The pitch or number of convolutions may also be varied to suit each particular requirement and the shape also of. these grooves may be varied and adjusted within wide limitations, the essential principles, however, remaining the same, viza truly rising column within an annular space, hav-,

ing a circular or whirling action,'for the purposes before described.

7 Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a hydraulic classifier, a sorting column comprising concentric spaced members bet-ween which the fluid ascends, and a member at the lower end of the column having fluid channels inclined between the horizontal and vertical and opening upwardly directly into the base of the column and adapted to impart a circular or whirling action to the fluid at the point where it discharges from the channels.

2. In a hydraulic classifier, the combination with a tank, of a sorting column communicating with the base if said tank and comprising concentric spaced members between which the fluid ascends, one of said members being longer than the other and extending a substantial distance up into the tank and above the discharge of the latter into the sorting column, and a member at the lower end of the column having fluid channels inclined between the horizontal and vertical and opening upwardly directly into the base of said column, and adapted to impart a circular or whirling action to the fluid at the point where it discharges from the channels into said column.

3. In a hydraulic classifier, the combination with a tank, ofa sorting column communicating with the base thereof, means for producing whirling currents in the column, said column including a centrally-disposed pipe which extends a substantial distance up into the tank and above the dis charge of the latter into the sorting column.

4. In a hydraulic classifier, a sorting column comprising tubular members arranged one within the other, one of said members extending a substantial distance above the other and above the inlet thereto, and having means for producing whirling currents in said column.

5. In a hydraulic classifier, a sorting column comprising a pipe, a spigot on the lower end thereof having double spaced walls and an internal chamber bounded by the innermost of said walls, and a pipe within said first-named pipe and extending above the same, and spaced therefrom to form an intervening chamber in which the column of fluid ascends, said second-named pipe being fitted to the upper end of said internal chamber and provided with a spirally grooved lower end, means for admitting water to said internal chamber below the spirally grooved end of said pipe, whereby the spiral grooves induce a circular or whirling action to the fluid as ber positioned between the lower end of the sorting column and the upper portion of said chamber having substantially spiral grooves inclined sharply to the horizontal for imparting a whirling action to the water at the point of discharge from the grooves.

7. In a hydraulic classifier, a sorting column through which the fluid ascends and in which separation of heavier from lighter particles occurs, a spigot at the lower end of the sorting column and having an internal chamber with an inlet thereto, for water under pressure, and means positioned between the lower end of the sorting column and the upper portion of said chamber and substantially closing the upper end of the latter and having inclined channels for imparting a whirling action to the water at the point of discharge from the channels, said spigot having double walls forming a space around the internal chamber and communicating at the top with the sorting column and receiving therefrom the separated heavier particles, said spigot having a discharge for said heavier particles.

8. In a hydraulic classifier, a sorting column adapted to connect with the lower portion of a tank, said sorting column having a member at its lower end provided with spaced walls and an internal chamber, means within and substantially closing the upper portion of said chamber having water channels inclined to the horizontal for imparting a whirling action to the fluid at the point of discharge from the channels, the space between the walls of said member communicating with the column and adapt ed to receive the heavier particles settling therefrom, said internal chamber having a fluid inlet, and said member having an outlet through which the heavier particles may be withdrawn.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MORRIS PAUL KIRK.

Witnesses:

EUGENE GiLns, F. E. TREGEA.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of ratents Washington, D. 0." 

